Florida GED Administrators' Manual

Dare to achieve, A way to succeed!

The GED Testing Services of the American Council on Education has established policies and procedures for setting up and operating GED Testing Centers.  The complete texts of the policies are included in the GED Examiner's Manual for the Tests of General Educational Development.  A copy of this manual should be maintained by the GED Chief Examiner or Alternate Examiner.  The following information is provided to assist local examiners in the operation of GED Testing Centers in Florida.

ESTABLISHING A GED TESTING CENTER 

GED Testing Centers must be established to provide high-quality, secure testing facilities for adults who wish to earn a high school diploma through the GED Testing program.  Testing centers may be established in:

• Public high schools
• Community colleges and universities
• Veterans Administration hospitals
• Military installations
• Some correctional and health institutions

• Demonstrate that a new center is needed to:
  • increase accessibility of testing
  • serve a specific group (disabled or corrections)
• Identify a facility which meets the basic requirements:
  • secure limited access storage for testing materials
  • quiet, clean, comfortable, well-lit testing room(s)
  • adequate space so that seating can be staggered to prevent copying or cheating
  • accessibility for candidates with disabilities
• Complete GEDTS Form 75 (Appendix E) and submit with the letter to State GED Administrator
• Submit a letter from the local GED administrator to the State GED Administrator requesting site visitation and approval
• Obtain a transportation addendum to the GED contract, if the test will be transported from one location to another

The requirements for relocating a GED Testing Center are the same as those for establishing a new center.  The GED administrator must notify the GED Testing Service in writing of the new center's address. 

Closing of a GED Testing Center 

GED Testing Centers may be closed by the State GED Administrator and the GED Testing Service for the following reasons:

• Request from the Chief Examiner or Chief Administrative Officer
• Insufficient testing volume
• An excess number of centers in the area
• Lack of qualified staff
• Failure to pay invoices or submit reports
• Failure to return restricted materials on time
• Failure to maintain adequate test security
  • lost or compromised materials
  • failure to follow policies and procedures
  • failure to follow sound practices
  • failure to attend mandatory inservice
  • failure to order new materials each contract year

Selection of the Chief Examiner is very important to a successful testing program.  The GED Chief Examiner is responsible for managing the GED Testing program and is responsible for test administration.  The Chief Examiner is appointed by the local Chief Administrative Officer (such as the College President or Superintendent of Schools). 

THE CHIEF ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICER  may also appoint as many Alternate Chief Examiners as are needed to maintain security and test administration procedures.

Each testing center must have at least one additional qualified individual who can assist in case of an emergency.  In smaller centers this is especially important.  In case of an emergency, this individual would be required to supervise the GED examinees in the event the GED Examiner was unable to do so.  Under no circumstances can examinees be left unsupervised.

Qualifications for Chief and Alternate Examiners include:

• Bachelor�s degree and a background in teaching, training, counseling or testing with no involvement in ABE or GED instruction
• Appointment by the Chief Administrative Officer
• Approval by the State GED Administrator
• Exception:  An individual with an Associate�s degree and three years experience in test administration may be eligible with written approval from the State GED Administrator.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHIEF EXAMINER

• Sign the contract
• Order materials
• Maintain test security
• Schedule and announce tests
• Identify test candidates
• Report test results
• Inventory and check tests
• Return materials to GEDTS
• Report any irregularities in the testing program
• Appoint proctors
• Submit reports

• Maintain test security
• Schedule and announce tests
• Identify test candidates
• Report test results
• Inventory and check tests
• Report any irregularities in the testing program
• Appoint proctors
• Submit reports

Some GED Testing Centers use proctors to assist with test administration.  Proctors must have a high school diploma or GED.  Proctors are not permitted to conduct a testing session without direct supervision by the Chief Examiner or Alternate Chief Examiner.  An individual who teaches ABE or GED students may not serve as a GED Testing Proctor.  Proctors may:

• Maintain visual supervision of examinees
• Watch for cheating, copying or other inappropriate behaviors
• Distribute and collect test booklets, answer sheets, paper, pencils, pens, etc.
• Maintain the test log during the testing session

All testing centers operate under the terms of an annual contract.  This contract is developed between the GED Testing Service, the State GED Administrator and the local testing center.  The Chief Administrator and Chief Examiner must sign the contract.  By signing the contract the local testing center is agreeing to abide by all policies and procedures of the GED Testing program.  If a center does not submit a signed contract and an order form before the previous year's contract expires, the center may be closed.

Transportation Addendums to the Contract 

Contracts may be amended to allow transportation of the GED Tests to alternate sites with the written approval of the State GED Administrator and GEDTS.  This allows Chief/Alternate Examiners to transport the test to approved sites where they must be stored in a secure area.  Any additions to the contract must be approved by the State GED Administrator and GEDTS.  An alternate site which will be used for testing must be approved as indicated on the first page of this chapter.  A transportation addendum is not required if the Chief or Alternate Chief Examiner is transporting the GED Tests for a one-time, off-site special administration to an individual with disabilities.

ORDERING TESTING MATERIALS 

All editions of the GED Tests are the sole property of and copyrighted by the American Council on Education.  The tests are made available to local centers for administration only to those individuals who meet eligibility criteria.  Each test booklet should be used no more than 15 times.  Tests may be ordered by completing GEDTS Form 100.  The form must be signed and submitted by the Chief Examiner.  Additional test batteries may be ordered during the contract year.  If a test booklet is damaged or becomes unusable it must be retired from use.  Chief Examiners should retain these retired materials in a secure location and return to the GEDTS at the end of the contract year. 

The GEDTS provides secure, tamper-resistant shipping containers when sending materials to local testing centers.  These containers should be used to return materials to the GEDTS.  Any empty container should also be returned to avoid paying a fee.

STORAGE OF MATERIALS AND TEST SECURITY 

The Chief and Alternate Chief Examiners are directly responsible for safeguarding all testing materials.  It is imperative that the security of the test booklets and answer sheets be maintained.  Intact or incomplete answer sheet booklets must be treated as restricted material.

If the GED Tests are not treated with a high level of security, they lose their value. 

All testing material must be secured in the following manner:

• The Chief Examiner and Alternate Chief Examiner(s) must be the only persons to inspect, administer and have access to the GED Tests.
• Test materials can be moved from the testing center only for:
  • return to the GEDTS at the end of the contract year
  • transportation under a valid addendum to the GED Annual Contract or for one-time only transportation to serve an adult with disabilities
• Materials must be stored in a sturdy, locked file cabinet or safe that is accessible only to the Chief and/or Alternate Chief Examiner(s).
• Materials must be inventoried upon receipt, before and after each test administration and at least once a month between testing sessions.
• Materials that are being transported must be delivered directly to the approved testing site and secured.  No intermediate stops may be made on the way to the testing center.  Materials must not be left unsecured in the trunk of an automobile.
• Materials must be inventoried before and after transporting. 
• Test batteries may not be destroyed at the testing center.
• Test batteries must be returned to GEDTS at the end of the contract year.
• Answer booklets, once used by an examinee, are considered confidential and must be treated as restricted test material.

The security of the testing materials is crucial to the integrity and validity of the GED Tests.

Compromised Testing Materials

Any time a test booklet or essay topic has been exposed to a person or persons without direct and continual visual supervision by the Chief or Alternate Chief Examiner, that test is considered compromised.  Compromising of testing materials can occur when:

• Allowing GED examinees to leave their seats during a testing session
• Disclosing an item on the GED Tests 
• Disclosing an essay topic 
• Permitting access to the GED Tests to anyone other than the Chief or Alternate Chief Examiner(s)
• Telling a GED examinee which items he or she did not answer correctly

• Upon discovery of loss or compromise, ALL administration of the GED Tests at the center must stop at once.  No further testing can be conducted until written authorization is granted from the State GED Administrator and the GEDTS.
• Test results and score reports may not be released for any examinee(s) at any testing session in which a test loss or compromise occurred until:
  • The cause and extent of the loss can be determined
  • Permission to release scores has been given
• The Chief Examiner must immediately (within the hour or if after 4:45 p.m., the start of the next business day) report by telephone and in writing any missing materials, including their forms and serial numbers to the: 
  • Chief Administrative Officer (School Superintendent or Community College President)
  • State GED Administrator
  • GED Testing Service
• Within minutes the Chief Examiner must begin an investigation into:
  • the location of the missing material
  • the reason for the loss
  • the extent of the loss
• If it appears that the test material has been stolen, the theft must be reported to the municipal or county police immediately, even if the loss occurs at a college or school with its own security staff.
• The Chief Examiner must conduct a detailed review of ALL test administration procedures and security measures.  This is a first step in preventing problems.
• If there is a threat to test security at any center within a 50-mile radius, consult the GED Administrator for directions.  Generally the Chief Examiner will notify testing centers to discontinue use of the compromised or lost materials.
• If the compromised materials must be recalled from local centers within a 50-mile radius, the GED Testing Center at which the loss occurred may be responsible for assuming the cost of restocking test materials.  (This decision will be made by the State GED Administrator).
• If the investigation determines that a form of the test has been compromised, the remaining stock of testing materials of that form must be returned to the GEDTS, addressed "To the Attention of Test Security."  The center will be required to pay a full rental fee for replacement forms IF AND WHEN the center can resume testing.
• A full written report of the investigation and the findings must be submitted by the Chief Examiner to the:
  • Chief Administrative Officer
  • State GED Administrator
  • GED Testing Service
• The State GED Administrator must visit the center and consult with the Chief and Alternate Chief Examiner(s) concerning procedures.  Results of the visit must be included in the Chief Examiner's Report.
• The Chief Examiner's Report must include:
  • the circumstances that led to the loss/compromise
  • testimony of any staff or examinees that has bearing on the incident
  • recommendations of the State GED Administrator
  • security measures that will be implemented
  • administrative changes that will occur, if any
  • a copy of the police report, if applicable

• After the site visit, when the State GED Administrator is satisfied that appropriate security measures will be used at the center, he/she may recommend to the GEDTS that testing be allowed to resume.
• If the GEDTS agrees with the recommendation, the State GED Administrator will be notified and a copy of the communication will be forwarded to the Chief Examiner and the Chief Administrative Officer.  No testing may take place until written notice is received from GEDTS.

The GED Tests may be transported to alternate sites, if a transportation addendum has been included in the annual contract.  GED Tests may also be transported to an alternate site on a one-time only basis to provide access to the tests for an adult with a disability.

Only the GED Administrator, Chief and/or Alternate Examiner(s) may transport the GED Tests.

Security of Materials During Transport:

• Materials should be transported in heavy-duty container that can be secured with a lock.
• Only the number of tests needed for the session may be transported, extra copies may not be included.
• An inventory of the materials being transported must be completed before leaving the center, after arrival at the alternate site and before leaving the site and upon return to the testing center.
• Lockable, limited access storage must be available to, at and from the transportation site.
• Under no circumstances can materials remain at any location other than those approved in the annual contract over night.

It is the responsibility of the Chief Examiner to develop and publish a schedule of testing sessions that will meet the needs of adults within the community.  The testing schedule should be disseminated through the:

• Local news media
• Brochures
• Other means of communication 

• Local government agencies
• Community groups
• Organizations for further distribution

TESTING FEES 

Each testing center may establish fees sufficient to cover the costs of the GED Tests.  However, these fees may not exceed:

• $50.00 for the complete battery
• $12.00 for the Writing Skills Test
• $10.00 each for the Social Studies, Science, Interpreting Literature and the Arts and Mathematics Tests

Most testing centers require individuals to pay test fees in cash or by check.  Proper identification must be included when paying by check.

ELIGIBILITY, TESTING AND RETESTING 

The GED Tests are intended to give adults a second opportunity to complete a high school program of instruction and receive a high school diploma.  To be eligible for testing an adult must:

• Be a resident of the State of Florida with no minimum period of residence required
• Not be a high school graduate, or have received a high school equivalency certificate
• Not have earned scores on the GED Tests sufficient to qualify for a high school equivalency certificate, except 
  • where those individuals request special permission to retest to obtain a higher score for admission requirements for postsecondary education or training purposes or to meet employment requirements, or
  • where the individual has earned a credential by passing the Spanish Language version and is now required to pass the English Language version for employment or postsecondary education or training purposes
• Not be enrolled in an accredited high school, except for those students enrolled in the GED/HSCT Exit Option for alternative education (See Chapter 4)
• Be at least 18 years of age, or if 16 or 17 years of age have obtained an age waiver from the local GED Testing Center
• Provide a valid State of Florida Driver License or State of Florida Identification Card as proof of residency
• Provide a Social Security Card or Taxpayer Identification Number 
• Complete a GED Test Application (DVE 090). This form may be customized for each testing center.
• Register for the GED Tests in person and provide proof of identification at time of registration

Examinees taking the GED Tests for the first time must be given an opportunity to complete the entire test battery before they are retested on any of the five tests.  Examinees may take part or all of the GED Tests.  Examinees who wish to take the parts over several testing periods may do so.  However, examinees must be given the opportunity to complete all five tests during a testing session.  In the State of Florida, most testing sessions occur over a period of three days, although some locations complete the full battery in two days.

Retesting

Examinees may retest on the entire battery or on certain tests in the battery.  An examinee must take an alternate form of the test each time he/she retests.  The GEDTS provides centers with three forms of the test during each annual contract period.  When an examinee has taken all three forms of the test, he/she must wait until the following contract year to retest.

In the State of Florida, an examinee may be required to wait up to six (6) months before retesting if he/she scores less than 215 on the full battery.  The examinee may retest before that period if he/she has demonstrated ability (usually through the GED Practice Test) that he/she has gained sufficient skills to be successful on the retest.

GED candidates should be advised of the three-times-per-year limit on testing and encouraged to participate in GED Preparation programs and take the Official GED Practice Test.

There are a number of test forms in use in Florida:

• U.S. English-Language - Each center receives three versions of the standard GED Tests each contract year.
• Audiocassette - There is only one form of this test and it must be requested from the State GED Administrator.  Examinees using the audiocassette version may take the same version three times in one year.
• Braille - There is only one form of this test and it must be requested from the State GED Administrator.  Examinees using the Braille version may take the same version three times in one year.
• Large print - There are two forms of this test and they must be requested from the State GED Administrator.  Examinees who retest using the large print version must alternate between the two forms.
• Spanish-Language - As with the English version, there are three forms of the Spanish-Language tests.  Retesting must alternate between the forms.

Local testing centers receive official score reports from the State GED Testing Office.  The reports include:

• Name of the examinee
• Date of testing
• Birth date and an identifying number (usually social security number)
• Form of test taken
• Standard scores on each test
• Total test score 
• Total average score

DUPLICATE CREDENTIAL FEES 

Each examiner must pay a fee for duplicate credentials ordered.  The fees are:

• Duplicate Transcript   $4.00
• Duplicate Diploma   $4.00
• Duplicate Diploma and Transcript  $4.00

MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS 

It is the responsibility of the Chief Examiner to maintain permanent records of individuals' GED test results.  Each center should develop a system to maintain records in a manner similar to that of storage of permanent records for regular high school graduates. 

EXAMINEES' RIGHTS 

Score Report Challenge

A GED examinee has the right to formally challenge his/her score report.  If an examinee exercises this right, the Chief Examiner must submit a written inquiry no more than 2 weeks after the score report has been received.  The Chief Examiner may request a re-evaluation of the answer booklet and/or essay.  The results of this re-evaluation must be reported to the examinee in a timely manner.

If the examinee is not satisfied with the results, he/she may retest.  If he/she refuses to retest or accept the scores, the examinee may file a grievance with the State GED Administrator.

Challenge of Test Item During Administration

An examinee may question any portion of a test item during the testing session.  In the event of a challenge, the GED Examiner must adhere to the following:

• Allow the examinee to describe his/her concern.
• Record the following information:
  • examiner's name, Center ID and telephone number
  • test form (AG, AK for example)
  • content area of test (Social Studies, etc.)
  • format code (EP, SP, etc.)
  • item number and page number
  • description of concern
  • examinee's name and mailing address
• Forward information from the second step above to Director of Test Development at the GEDTS.
• GEDTS will research examinee's claim and provide a written response to the Examiner and examinee within 5 days of receiving the request.
• Outcome will depend on the findings of the GEDTS, either:
  • if the item is correct as printed the examinee's score will stand as awarded
  • if the item is determined to have the potential to cause an examinee to miss the item, the GEDTS will adjust the examinee's score and implement procedures to prevent item from affecting other examinees' scores.
• GEDTS will provide copies of all correspondence to the State GED Administrator.
• If examinee is not satisfied with the results, he or she may retest on another form of the test.

If an examinee approaches the examiner after the testing session has been concluded and challenges a question on the test, the examiner must obtain as much information as possible from the examinee as in the previous section.  However, under no circumstances, may the examinee be allowed to view any portion of the tests while providing this information.

Confidentiality of Scores

The test scores of examinees are confidential information.  An examinee�s scores should be reported to colleges, adult education teachers, recruiters, employers and others only for examinees who have provided written permission to that effect.  The fact that a person has or has not taken the GED should also be treated as confidential information.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES 

The American Council on Education believes that all candidates "should have a fair opportunity to demonstrate his or her knowledge and skills under appropriate test conditions." The GEDTS has established procedures that allow candidates with physical, emotional or learning disabilities to receive special accommodations that will enable them to complete the GED Tests. It is the responsibility of the Chief Examiner to arrange tests under these special conditions. No additional charges may be made to the examinee.

Approved Accommodations

Accommodations are determined by the needs of persons with documented disabilities and they include:

• Audiocassette edition
• Braille edition
• Large print edition
• Extended time
• Scribe
• Frequent, supervised breaks (certifying professional must specify the frequency and duration of the breaks required)
• Calculator
• Interpreter (a certified interpreter can be used to interpret test instruction and essay topic only - not the multiple-choice test questions - to examinees with hearing impairments; interpreter may not be a relative or friend of the examinee)

• Word processors
• Spell checking programs
• Computers (except in the most extreme disabilities - must be approved by GEDTS)
• Readers

Medical Disabilities

Definition: A medical disability is a documented condition such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy or blindness that severely limits the candidate's ability to perform the essential skills required to take the GED Tests.

Documentation:  Verification of a medical disability and needed reasonable accommodations can be made using Form SA-001. The GED candidate can consult with a medical doctor or other appropriate professional or can use existing medical records to support the claim. 

Process:  Permission from the Florida GED Administrator is required for requested accommodations to standard testing on the basis of physical disabilities. Approval from the GED Testing Service is not required for requests that conform to the guidelines.

Emotional Disabilities

Definition:  An emotional or psychological disability is a DSM-IV defined condition, such as schizophrenia, major depression, Attention Deficit Disorder or Tourette Syndrome that can be expected to impair a candidate's ability to be successful on the GED Tests under regular testing conditions.

Documentation:  Most verification of an emotional disability and needed reasonable accommodations can be made using Form SA-011 for these requests.  For Attention Deficit Disorder, use Form L-15.  The process for verification of ADHD is the same as that established for specific learning disabilities.

Process: Permission from the Florida GED Administrator is required for requested accommodations to standard testing on the basis of emotional disabilities.

Specific Learning Disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Disorder

Definition:  The term "specific learning disability" (SLD) means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to:

• Listen
• Speak
• Read
• Write
• Spell
• Do mathematical calculation

• Perceptual handicaps
• Brain injury
• Minimal brain dysfunction
• Dyslexia
• Developmental aphasia

• Visual, hearing or motor handicaps
• Mental retardation
• Emotional disturbance 
• Environmental, cultural or economic disadvantage

Process:  Requests for accommodations are submitted on Form L-15.  Permission from the Florida GED Administrator is required for requested accommodations to standard testing based on specific learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Disorder.

Common Interventions in Testing Environment for Adults with Specific Learning Disabilities 

Reading Disability (Dyslexia)

• Additional time, usually time and a half
• Double time, if condition is profound
• Large print edition
• Audiocassette edition

• Scribe to write the essay dictated by the candidate
• Scribe to fill in bubbles on the answer sheet, if SLD affects sense of space and direction

• Calculator if SLD affects math calculation but not reasoning

• Extended time
• Frequent breaks
• Private testing

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), each GED Testing Center must ensure that adults with disabilities have access to testing services.  To ensure access, Chief Examiners should:

• Publish availability of special editions of the GED Tests and the availability of special accommodations.
• Arrange a test schedule that is mutually convenient for examinee and examiner for the special administration of the GED Tests.
• Conduct the test in a facility that is accessible to the examinee.  This may include taking the GED Tests to the examinee's home or hospital room, as long as security measures are maintained.
• Must ensure that the physical and psychological environment is appropriate when testing under special conditions, with adequate quiet and privacy, ample work space, and appropriate lighting and ventilation.
• Maintain test security during special testing sessions, including:
  • limiting supplies brought into the testing room
  • collecting scratch paper after the test
  • prohibiting friends or relatives from being present in the room
  • ensuring that the examinee remains in the presence of the examiner during the entire testing session (exceptions to this policy can be made only for those rare occasions when an examinee requires medical attention during the testing session)

• A signed, captioned videotape of test instructions
• Candidate may read all printed instructions and information that would normally be read by the examiner
• A qualified, professional interpreter with language preference of the examinee may be provided, if requested
• Double time for examinees for whom Standard Written English is a second language
• A video camera, videocassette recorder and monitor to use in composing the essay. This provides the candidate with a way to compose his/her essay.  The candidate then reviews the tape and writes the final draft of the essay on paper.

• A special edition of the test may be used, either:
  • Audiocassette
  • Braille
  • Large Print
• A scribe may read the essay topic aloud.
• An abacus, talking calculator, stylus or slate or a brailler may be used as "scratch paper."
• An Opticon, a magnifying glass or electronic aid to meet needs of the candidate, may be used.
• A Braille writing device or computer-controlled brailler may be used to record answers.
• A scribe may record answers to multiple-choice questions and the essay.
• Another adaptive device may be used if it is appropriate to meet the needs of the candidate.

• The test may be transported to the candidate if the candidate is unable to reach the test site.
• The examiner may mark the answer sheet or write the essay using appropriate strategies.
• The examiner may write numbers or symbols necessary to solve problems as long as they are written as directed by the candidate.

• One time administration at a health care facility
• An individual testing session at a testing center
• Supervised untimed breaks
• Allowing the candidate to review the examiner's directions prior to the test date

• Behavior controllers may be present to assist with the candidate's testing session (if approved by the GEDTS)
• The behavior controller:
  • must be a high school graduate
  • must not be the candidate's teacher
  • may not see or assist with any part of the test
  • will be called upon only if there is a disruption
  • may be present inside the testing room
• If a candidate becomes disruptive, the examiner:
  • must have candidate removed immediately
  • must have testing results canceled for that session
  • must file Report of Testing Irregularity with the GEDTS and the State GED Administrator